Bosnia stood between Ireland and their dreams, but Friday night’s 1-1 draw in Zenica, laid the foundation for Monday night and Walters’ coolly-taken 24th-minute penalty and sweet volley 20 minutes from time did the trick. But I’m thrilled for the players because they have put heart and soul into the games.
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“They have given everything and I don’t think they had anything left to give. As long as we’re not in Saipan, we’ll be alright”, a smiling Keane told national broadcaster RTE, referring to the Pacific Island made famous for his spat with then manager Mick McCarthy.
“Means everything this, what a group of lads, what a country, proud to be Irish, see yous in France YEOOO!!”, tweeted McClean moments after the final whistle was blown on Ireland’s play-off match with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“It was a tall order but it was never beyond them”.
Speaking to reporters in the lobby area of Castleknock Country Club – the team’s new base in Dublin – Coleman said the team’s achievement in reaching Euro 2016 still hadn’t sunk in.
“This is exactly what you’re in football for”.
“You would hope there is more to come from this group in terms of the tournament itself”, said Keane, who has challenged the younger members of the squad to use the friendly fixtures in March to push their case to start games in France.
“He was fantastic against Germany and so was David Meyler when we were away to Germany”.
Keane paid special tribute to two-goal hero Jonathan Walters, a player he tried desperately to hold on to when he was manager of Ipswich Town.
While Bazdarevic vowed to attack, Bosnia’s first half performance was marked by indiscipline with Emir Spahic, in particular, fortunate to remain on the field.
“Obviously there were disappointments along the way as you would expect like in Scotland but we hung in there and the players showed great fighting spirit”.
“Every time you work with players, from a selfish point of view, you always think that there is more to come”. I’m sorry, I’m not William Wordsworth or William Shakespeare, so I can’t find another word at the moment.
He said: “Hopefully it’ll be a bit different to the last one I was involved in”.
“During the qualification it was very hard for us”, he added.
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O’Shea was suspended for the first game but has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in Sunderland’s derby win over Newcastle United in the Premier League last month.
